SEPTEMBER 18
by David Lehman
Everything means something
as the “countdown to the unknown”
(Alan Greenspans’ phrase) continues
for example tonight’s the fight
between Felix Trinidad and Oscar de la Hoya
and we’re driving to the republic of Flushing
with Stacey up front and a black star in the back seat
to watch it with our host the poet Frank Lima
who was an assistant chef at the Kennedy White House
and will serve longevity noodles on paper plates
you make a left at Dunkin’ Donuts on 137th Street
then a right on 35 Avenue and you’re there
I hear Bob Holman is coming will he bring Elizabeth Murray
I wonder so why don’t I phone him and find out
it’s ringing he answers “poetry” I say “this is prose”
and we resolve to duke it out on pay-per-view tonight
yes she is coming I just saw her cover for a book of poems
by Lee Ann Brown called Polyverse and want to see more
and I will bring this poem and ask everyone if it’s true
-- from The Evening Sun (Scribner, 2002)
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